In Toronto, for example, homeowners or renters can legally rent a single spot, but not their driveway or yard. However, those rules differ for condo and apartment dwellers.

Most condo parking spaces come with their own legal ownership documents that are usually separate from the agreements you sign when you purchase your unit. Toronto spaces can go for as much as $70,000.

These spaces, however, can only be sold or rented to fellow residents in the same building, as it can be a security concern. Violators could have their vehicles towed by the condo corporation and possibly face legal charges. All legal costs incurred by the condominium board can ultimately be applied as a lean against your unit.

Fines can range from a maximum of $25,000 for an individual to $50,000 for a corporation.

A residential homeowner, who turns their frontyard into a parking lot, can face a maximum $5,000 hit, but enforcement is complaint-based, so it’s a fairly safe bylaw violation.

Those rules vary from city to city and even within the city, again depending on zoning and dwellings. Just don’t assume that something as apparently harmless as renting a parking spot can’t get you into trouble.

Check your own local bylaws before starting a private parking business.